There have been a lot of news reports on statins, particularly Crestor, lately.   A new study, media reported, suggests that Crestor can help apparently healthy people with normal body weight to reduce heart risk.   But should we jump start taking statins? The medicine does not come without side effects.

Statins are well known to effectively lower cholesterol, which is believed to be the culprit for heart disease although experts have said it clearly that this type of medicine works well in people with underlying heart conditions, but not in healthy people simply because the risk reduction in healthy people is not that significant.

After all, we have quite some alternatives available to be readily used to reduce not just cholesterol, but directly cut the risk of developing heart disease and stroke.   For instance, Dr. Dean Ornish's diet along with his lifestyle program works in 99.999 percent of people to stop plaque buildup in arteries or even reverse the progression.   By the way, don’t think you have no problem with artery blockage.   Evidence shows that as many as 70 percent of healthy young people may have their artery blocked to certain degree.

Those who feel uncomfortable with the cheap dietary invention and are reluctant to follow the famous Ornish’s diet and lifestyle program may still try to take some supplements like vitamin D and red yeast rice, which have been known to be very effective in lowering cholesterol.   Just remember that cholesterol is not the only risk factor that is involved in heart disease.

As mentioned early, statins can help people with heart condition and there is no doubt about it.   For those people, the benefits may well outweigh the risks.

Still there is one possible benefit which may not be well known to many people.   Taking statins may boost sexual performance in men with erectile dysfunction (ED).

At least one study by Ferrer E and colleagues from Prous Science in Barcelona, Spain and published in the Jan 2007 issue of Drugs Today suggests that statins have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their multiple modes of action.

Ferrer et al. writes in their report that ED is a disorder involving impairment of the vascular endothelium and is associated with cardiovascular disease. They say not all phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors may help patients with ED.

They suggest that "The use of statins as adjuvant or alternative therapy in erectile dysfunction has opened new avenues for the treatment of this disorder."

The possible use of statins in men with ED is not far-fetching.  Miner M and Billups KL from Brown University in Swansea, MA reviewed previous studies and found that Ed is linked to hyperlipidemia/dyslipidemia. Statins can modify the blood conditions and thus at least theoretically they may help men with ED.

But no one should venture to start taking statins for that possible effort because of the efficacy and safety issues.  Still, there are many things men can do to improve their performance.   Physical exercise, vitamin C, peanuts or arginine supplements, omega 3 fatty acids and garlic are some foods that men can eat to boost their performance in bedroom.